Artificial flooring.



No. 898,881. v4IIII'EII'-1LE1I SEPT. 8, '1908. R. v. MAIIIsoN. ARTIFICIAL FLOORING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19,1904.

INVENTORV S E S S E N H W UNITED STATES RICHARD V. MATTISON, OF UPPER DUBLIN,

PATENT OFFICE.

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORA TO KEASBEY d; MATTISON COMPANY, OF AMBLER, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PEN N SYL- VANIA.

aarmicmr. FLooarNe.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

Application led February 19, 1904. Serial No. 194,333.

y cementing material. By thus combining layers of differing characteristics I am able to so break up the lines of cleavage as to pro duce a floor which is not liable'to crack even under most severe and varying strains.

In its referred form my floor contains three distinct layers, and I willtherefore describe-it in.V this form, it being understood that under some circumstances one or other of the layers may be omitted without losing the beneficial results of my invention.

In the accompanying (drawings, there is illustrated a detached section of flooring, constructed of three layers, according to the preferred form of, my invention. `These layers are indicatedyreapectively by the numerals 1, 2, and 3, and I will describe the composition of each se arately.

The bottom ayer 1, iscomposed of what I term corkconcrete This consists of disintegrated cork, in the form of cork chips of about the size of a' pea, united by'Sorel s cement, which consists of a mixture of oXid of magnesium with chlorid of magnesium. On] enough of the cementing material is use to unite the cork chips together, thus leaving abundantl air space, and to thinly coat superficially each piece of cork, thus rendering it noninfiammable by reason of the fire roof qualities vof Sorel's cement. The cork concrete thus formed is verypelastic and sprin free from any fixed lines of cleava e, and'tiick enough to resist and distribute t e strains which may be put upon the floor. It

also has valuable properties as al sound dead-` ener, and as a warm non-heat conducti substance, due to the amount of imprisone air which it contains.

The foundation layer 2, consists of wood ber- (long splinters) 15%, sawdust 10%, and

of cork'vconcrete, it is sometimes feasi .place layers 2, and 3, directly upon a base of oxid of magnesium 75%. With.100 pounds of this is mlxed about 200 pounds 0f a solution of chlorid of magnesium at 20 Baume, and the resulting composition is spread in place and allowed to stand for 24 hours until 1t sets. This layer is very strong and tough, thoroughly distributing all strains. It is rather porous, and quite springy tothe tread.

The finishing layer 3, Vconsists of asbestos fiber 15%, wood `flour (an exceedingly fine saw-dust) 10%, and oxid of magnesium 75%. With 100 pounds of this is mixed about 100 pounds of a solution-of chlorid of magnesium at 20 Baum. This makes a stiff paste or mortar which is spread with a trowel and straight edge, and allowed to set over night. With it may be mixed any suitable coloring matter according to the color of the floor desired.- It makes a very strong, hard, smooth and impervious surface.

Instead of employing the bottom layler 1, e -to fioor boards. The floor thus produced is capable of resisting all ordinary strains, short of a violent shrinkagel or warping. of the boards. I prefer, however, to employ the concrete layerlwhich is capable of dist'ributin and withstanding even such a violent shrin age. Under some circumstances, layer l., may be directly combined with la er 2, but, I prefer to employ the interme iate foundation layer 2, to thoroughly break up the lines of possible'cleavage, and thus produce a floor which not crack from settling or from shrinkage oftimbers or any other cause. .Claims:

1. `A compound floor consisting of a base in, combination with a layer above said base, which is composed of disintegrated cork chips coated superficiallywith cement, said chips being coated with only enough of said cementing material to them firmly together but with provision of abundantair spaces between the coated chips. v y

2. A compound floor consisting of a plurali of layers each of which contains 'a .woody basis embedded in Sorels cement, the woody matter being finely ground for th'e top layer, and-morecoarse below.

3. A compound floorconsisting `'of three layers each containing a woody basis embedded in Sorels cement; the Woody basis for State of Pennsylvania, this seventeenthday the top layer consisting of Wood iour; that= of February 1.904.

for the intermediate la er consist' of Wood fiber and saw dust; amyi that for lih bottom RICHARD V' MATTISON' 5 layer consisting of disintegrated cork. Witnesses:

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto JAMES H. BELL,

signed my name, at Philadelphia, in the E. L. FULLERTON. 

